How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary
By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh
How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary
Let's face it, living in the confines of your home is odd. Strange. Confining. Defining? Though you may love your home, being restricted to it in this current climate isn't something you've likely planned for. Ever.
My husband, three kids and I live in a terrace house in heritage listed suburb in Sydney. It's is a lifestyle choice, and one that my husband and I made many years ago. We gave up space at home, a pool and a huge backyard, for a beautiful neighbourhood filled with shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. A short bus ride into the city and a short walk to the harbour. Urban life at its best. Our kids love their urban upbringing; we know all our neighbours and the community spirit is second to none.
However, during COVID we saw our inner city freedoms taken away and our limited space at home started to feel really small.
During this time, I made the call I would make our home a sanctuary. Sure, we didnt have huge amounts of space, but I was determined to do my best and turn previously ignored nooks and crannies into areas of love.
My first area of focus was our car space (we don't have a backyard given our inner city location). The goal was to turn it into an urban Moroccan Oasis. We'd thankfully spent the last 6 months building a barbecue, bench seating and collecting some garden plants, but the space was still being used to park our car. I decided two weeks ago that I wanted a pleasant space for the kids to play, do their artwork, relax and get some fresh air. I invested in a hammock from Temple & Webster, two outdoor mats from OPUS and two chairs from Matt Blatt. Coupled with an existing bean bag and some kiddie chairs and our space has come alive.
Simple Ways to Make Your Home into Your Sanctuary
The second area of focus was our previously empty terrace balcony. We overlook a lovely street and cafe which is a hot spot for locals and tourists alike. The street is tree-lined and a beautiful outlook from the balcony, which runs off the main bedroom. However in two years we've never used the balcony space. Two weeks ago I ordered two outdoor seats from Matt Blatt, a coffee table, and purchased a beautiful plant from our local garden store The Plant Society. The result: a lovely space we break for morning coffee, a quiet afternoon spot to work once the kids have been homeschooled, and a perfect place to have a G&T at 5pm.
Have a space in your home that has previously been unused? Spare a minute to sprinkle some lockdown love, and you too can turn your old 'void' into new enclave and keep smiling like we are. Turn your garage into a games room, your spare room into an art studio or your basement into a beauty parlour. Look around and see what you can find; I promise with a bit of love and imagination, your home is your oyster.
Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?
The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.
Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard.
As Seen at the Oscars!
Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.
Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!
While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking. And the evidence is clear.
Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.
Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.
Attipas Sneaker - Grey
Attipas Ballet - Pink
Attipas Rainbow Black
Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”
“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.”
Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.
Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.
At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.
In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.
Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.
“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”
What our customers are saying about us...
“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria
All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.
We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA. They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.
Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.
Aqua Shoes - Blue
Aqua Shoes - Gradation Pink
